Larceny of merchandise held for sale in retail or wholesale establishments shall be punishable as follows:

1. 1. For the first or second conviction, in the event the value of the goods, edible meat or other corporeal property which has been taken is less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), the violator shall be punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not exceeding thirty (30) days, and by a fine not less than Ten Dollars ($10.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00); provided for the first or second conviction, in the event more than one item of goods, edible meat or other corporeal property has been taken, punishment shall be by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not to exceed thirty (30) days, and by a fine not less than Fifty Dollars ($50.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).
2. 2. If it be shown, in the trial of a case in which the value of the goods, edible meat or other corporeal property is less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), that the defendant has been two or more times before convicted of the same offense, the defendant shall, on a third or subsequent conviction, be punished by confinement in the county jail for a term of not more than one (1) year, and by a fine not exceeding One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00).
3. 3. In the event the value of the goods, edible meat or other corporeal property is One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or more, punishment shall be imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for a term of not more than five (5) years.

Laws 1967, SB 407, c. 255, § 1, emerg. eff. May 8, 1967; Amended by Laws 1968, HB 1139, c. 268, § 1, emerg. eff. April 30, 1968; Amended by Laws 1982, HB 1137, c. 277, § 6, eff. October 1, 1982; Amended by Laws 1993, HB 1823, c. 147, § 9, eff. September 1, 1993; Amended by Laws 1997, HB 1213, c. 133, § 406 (effective date amended to July 1, 1999, by Laws 1998, 1st Extr. Sess., HB 1002, c. 2, §§ 23-26, emerg. eff. June 19, 1998) (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 1999, 1st Extr. Sess., HB 1009, c. 5, § 297, emerg. eff. July 1, 1999 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2001, SB 397, c. 437 § 13, emerg. eff. July 1, 2001 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2016, HB 2751, c. 221, § 19, eff. November 1, 2016 (superseded document available); Amended by Section 9, State Question 780, Initiative Petition 404, adopted at election held November 8, 2016, effective July 1, 2017 (superseded document available).